Tokyo Lift-Off 2017 – Shorts programme 3

Shorts programme 3, Local Filmmaker's Showcase & Networking

1.

Don't Cry Dir. Tomoya Takashima Tokyo | 2017 | 12 minsA story of people living in a world prohibited from giving birth. Sci-Fi Thriller animation. In this era, artificial intelligence, AI has come to power. Birthing limits were implemented in order to manage the AI population that has grown too much. Although AI’s threatening, illegal birth laws are no end of mankind’s desire. The parents and children would be killed if exposed by government. The couple are heading the port toward the resistance force called the ‘Human Tribe’to save the children. AI was approaching behind them.

2.

Mimi Dir. Aldo Lee France/Japan | 2016 | 22 minsMimikaki, very popular in Japan, consists in cleaning out ears with a wooden stick, the head put on the knees of an attractive woman dressed in a Kimono. This ancestral practice initially executed by mothers on their children has turn in a real business for businessmen willing to return to their mother’s arms… The surprising and singular experience that Mimi is going to live...

3.

Spirited Nature Traces of Light Dir. Nik Kleverov Japan/USA | 2016 | 6minsA short documentary about the collaboration between Mayako Nakamura, a well-known Japanese artist, and Tony DeVarco, an American graphic artist.

4.

Nineveh's Burning Dir. Lukasz Pytlik Japan/USA | 2016 | 4.5 minsThe song ‘Nineveh’s Burning’ is about a historical irony surrounding the preservation of humanity’s oldest story. The Epic of Gilgamesh was written on clay tablets thousands of years ago. In 612 B.C.E. these tablets were in the Library of Nineveh (modern Mosul in Iraq) when the city was sacked and razed to the ground. When the library burned, the tablets hardened, largely preserved because of the war. The irony then is a tale of wisdom preserved by an act of war. The film of the song explores this irony in an expressive and allegorical way.

5.

ODAYAKA-YA Dir. KAZUHITO TAKAZAWA Japan | 2016 | 15 minsThe Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku on March 11, 2011 completely changed our values and the way we see things. It seems people are reconsidering their lifestyles, shifting the focus of happiness away from financial gain to feeling a connection with nature and with other people.

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7.

Retriever Dir. Joo Hwan Kim South Korea | 2015 | 25minsLee Kwang is an illegal immigrant in Korea. He makes a living by stealing dogs from animal shelters and selling them to butchers. But when he adopts a big golden retriever named Bori, the two develop a special bond.

8.

Be My First Dir. Philippe McKie Japan | 2017 | 11 mins | Language: Japanese with English subtitlesA young Japanese girl riding the train posts a message from her phone to an online thread: 'I'm a high-school student and I'm a virgin, does anyone want to pay to be my first? It has to be tonight'

After each film there will be a 2 minute break, during which we invite the audience to complete score cards. The cards go towards the scoring of the films and are sent directly to the filmmakers to provide insight into the audiences response.